This post is the third in a series about using the Virtual Data Centre API. Having shown some simple API programs in the second post, it is time now to expose how the API works in details, in terms of commands, requests, responses, and credentials (signatures). Finally, I will put this to use, using Python to create a simple API program.

This post is the fourth in a series about using the Virtual Data Centre API. I discuss the creation of 'dashboard widgets', that is, small graphical tools which can be resident on your computer screen as monitoring tools for the activity of the virtual machines, networks, etc., in your VDC.

With summer starting to fade and autumn upon us, memories of the World Cup are dwindling. However, one aspect stays with me – and I speak as a non-football fan – there is no doubt that many sports unite and suck us all in, but possibly the greatest at this is football when it takes to the world stage.

Think back to a time before the Internet, iPads, or smart TVs. When products were largely manufactured on complicated assembly lines with the object of appealing to a mass audience. Once well worn trial and error processes had delivered the optimal makeup, products were thrust into the mass market. To deviate from the standard design was not only unproductive, it was also utterly illogical and expensive.

This post is the second in a series about using the Virtual Data Centre API. I cover using 'command line history' to reuse the text of Cloudmonkey commands that you have previously typed, and writing simple programs (shell scripts) with Cloudmonkey using the Linux bash shell.